General Medical issues thread

[Pushka]

Statins are seemingly a drug that can cause significant side effects. Not sure if anecdotal or if this has been researched. I know my SIL refuses to take them because of that but I’d not use that as a benchmark. She’s fit and slim and very active and low BP but high cholesterol. My mother was put on statins as a preventive after stroke and she experienced mental confusion a few months later and with the assistance of my SIL she was taken off and did improve. But then later died of a stroke. We just thought it was her time but maybe stopping the statins wasn’t the right thing or maybe the warfarin caused the brain bleed and both of which will result in a stroke. Who knows.

The use of preventive drugs is interesting and potentially problematic. I’m on preventive blood thinners that could cause a brain, or stomach bleed so I have to take the proton pump inhibitors as I get heart burn. If I hit my head badly eg in a crash then a brain bleed could result. I’m also on high dose thyroxine which can cause osteoporosis. But I have arthritis in my foot which prevents weight bearing exercise to combat that. It’s a never ending cycle.

So my question is, does the treatment for diabetes prevention run any risks particularly when all blood sugar indicators are normal? Because this seems to be the next thing in the medical world.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I had an interesting chat with Dr FM on Sunday. I was having a bit of a rant about the effect Statins had on me and why did GPs have to stick rigidly to guidelines, rather than individualising treatment. She said the problem these days is that there is a constant potential to be sued. Medicine is now litigation driven. If you follow the guidelines rigidly the you are safe. If you use your discretion and something goes wrong you are on the hook.

So I think we are going to see a lot more medication being given in borderline cases and unfortunately we as consumers are driving that. Now I wouldn’t sue - I didn’t even when Mr FMs doctor totally misdiagnosed him and almost killed him and treated me appalling when I tried to query what was happening. I think it should be reserved for hugely negligent cases and only if there isn’t recognition of what is going wrong, so maybe someone else will be at risk. However that isn’t true of our society where people now seem to take action over every little thing.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Having fun with lots of tests. Had more bloods yesterday and they have included checking for auto immune problems.

Then this morning was a nerve conduction test - it would have been fine, except that with all the pain I have in my arms it was fairly difficult and I amost passed out at one stage. Had an absolutely lovely doctor, so we got through it and he said it was normal.

Then this afternoon was a carotid Doppler and both arteries seem fine.

Next cab off the rank is cardio and wearing a holter harness.

 

[suze2000]

That's a lot of tests, FM. I hope they all go well.

 

[Flying mermaid]

That's a lot of tests, FM. I hope they all go well.

So far so good - fortunately we live almost across the road from Calvary Hospital so it’s making it easy!

 

[love_the_life]

So far so good - fortunately we live almost across the road from Calvary Hospital so it’s making it easy!

Hope that things continue to improve - and nothing nasty turns up. Hugs.

 

[JohnK]

So far so good - fortunately we live almost across the road from Calvary Hospital so it’s making it easy!

Sorry to hear hope all goes well.

I'm feeling lucky today. The xrays I did in October/November last year reveal that one joint does not have Osteoarthritis.

 

[get me outta here]

Off to Brooklyn soon where there is a measles outbreak. Thinking of having a vaccination. Pretty sure I had one as a kid, but no harm done to boost it. If not for me, for other members of the community.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Off to Brooklyn soon where there is a measles outbreak. Thinking of having a vaccination. Pretty sure I had one as a kid, but no harm done to boost it. If not for me, for other members of the community.

I was wondering about that - I definitely had measles as a child. Might talk to my GP when I see her tomorrow (if I get a chance inbetween all the other things ) we are off to New York in two weeks.

Edit - just looked up Mayo clinic and it says having had the disease gives you life long immunity.

 

[get me outta here]

You may need to get it quickly as I had my flu vac today and I was told measles vac takes 2 weeks to be effective. The pharmac_ I went to today didn’t couldn’t fill the ‘script. And, they said they would charge $60. I’ll check the Discount pharmac_ tomorrow. But, it sounds as if you have enough on yr plate at the moment.

I was wondering about that - I definitely had measles as a child. Might talk to my GP when I see her tomorrow (if I get a chance inbetween all the other things ) we are off to New York in two weeks.

 

[Flying mermaid]

You may need to get it quickly as I had my flu vac today and I was told measles vac takes 2 weeks to be effective. The pharmac_ I went to today didn’t couldn’t fill the ‘script. And, they said they would charge $60. I’ll check the Discount pharmac_ tomorrow. But, it sounds as if you have enough on yr plate at the moment.

It appears I am Ok because I actually had the disease as a child. Like you I want to be responsible and not take any chances of bringing it back, but it sounds like I am OK. One of the benefits of being old and actually having had them all!

I have to admit right now I don’t want to add anything else to my list I have my cardio appointments and they are not until June and July so that’s actually a relief - I am a bit tired of specialists. I have been told I have to wear the Holter harness for 7 days - so no shower for 7 days - yuk! I am thinking a little bird bath might be OK.....

 

[Pushka]

I was wondering about that - I definitely had measles as a child. Might talk to my GP when I see her tomorrow (if I get a chance inbetween all the other things ) we are off to New York in two weeks.

Edit - just looked up Mayo clinic and it says having had the disease gives you life long immunity.

I meant to ask the GP this week and forgot. Not in West USA but it’s quite an infectious beast and I haven’t had it or the immunisation. With a little one on the way I’m rather cautious.

 

[love_the_life]

I..... I have been told I have to wear the Holter harness for 7 days - so no shower for 7 days - yuk! I am thinking a little bird bath might be OK.....

Seven days seems a very long time. Hope you work out how to bathe.It would drive me nuts.

 

[love_the_life]

I meant to ask the GP this week and forgot. Not in West USA but it’s quite an infectious beast and I haven’t had it or the immunisation. With a little one on the way I’m rather cautious.

Friends all had full sets of vaccinations again (and pertussis was there as well) when they were expecting grandies.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Seven days seems a very long time. Hope you work out how to bathe.It would drive me nuts.

I think it is hair washing that will be the worst

 

[love_the_life]

I think it is hair washing that will be the worst

Perhaps you can go to the hairdresser to have it washed....or MrFM might do it over a basin for you.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Perhaps you can go to the hairdresser to have it washed....or MrFM might do it over a basin for you.

yes that’s an idea - hairdresser. I couldn’t stand unwashed hair!

 

[Flashback]

Thoughts? I seem to have picked up Nepali Belly this morning and have been somewhat ill all day. I don't want to go see a Dr willy nilly just for the sake of it but I've vomited at least 10 times (a lot of liquid each time) and the other end has been .... err ... flowing. I've been trying to sip very slowly some Dioralyte but every time I take even a small sip it comes back up. I'm very, very dehydrated........ I have a banging headache (likely the dehydration) and my whole body aches. It took me 10 minutes even just to write this post.

I would hazard a guess and say I'm not going on tomorrow morning's 4.30am start trek

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thoughts? I seem to have picked up Nepali Belly this morning and have been somewhat ill all day. I don't want to go see a Dr willy nilly just for the sake of it but I've vomited at least 10 times (a lot of liquid each time) and the other end has been .... err ... flowing. I've been trying to sip very slowly some Dioralyte but every time I take even a small sip it comes back up. I'm very, very dehydrated........ I have a banging headache (likely the dehydration) and my whole body aches. It took me 10 minutes even just to write this post.

I would hazard a guess and say I'm not going on tomorrow morning's 4.30am start trek

if you are getting severely dehydrated (and it sounds like you are), I think you need a doctor. You can end up with other complications such as kidney problems

 

[Flashback]

if you are getting severely dehydrated (and it sounds like you are), I think you need a doctor. You can end up with other complications such as kidney problems

Thanks, I'll get Mrs Flashback to ring my TI and arrange.